First choice: Valentine Holmes will return from injury against the Dragons on Sunday. Picture: John Veage

It is a problem most NRL coaches would love to have.

Who would you play at fullback – Valentine Holmes or Jack Bird?

Cronulla head into their local derby with bitter rivals St George Illawarra on Sunday with a selection headache for coach Shane Flanagan on the back of the Sharks’ comprehensive thrashing of Canberra last weekend.

Holmes was expected to replace premiership-winning fullback Ben Barba in the No.1 jersey after Barba was released by the club during pre-season. But Holmes has missed the opening two rounds with a hamstring problem, opening the door firstly for Gerard Beale, only for the New Zealand international to also suffer a hamstring injury.

That gave Bird a chance at fullback against the Raiders on Saturday night, an opportunity he took with both hands.

The 21-year-old was outstanding against Canberra to leave Flanagan with a big decision ahead of the clash with the Dragons at Southern Cross Group Stadium.